Hello! Today was a busy day with two site visits to FoodCloud and Croke Park.
Before I start, if you’re wondering about the title, then yes it is true. I was just a poor lad trying to stay somewhat dry while buckets of rain were pouring down. I was looking down so it was lowkey my fault, but there were people walking right in front of me, so I thought I was fine. Then in the blink of an eye, a car is thisclose to me and decides to continually honk at me like no one’s business. I ran and was so flustered because in America, this car would have yield to pedestrians like me! So that’s the first difference I noticed: the Irish traffic is much more aggressive. I was suprised because, I mean, do you know how many times I’ve jaywalked on Forbes Avenue and still never gotten hit??
One thing I notice is that Dublin is so intimate for such a big city. Every time I visit New York City or even Pittsburgh Downtown, people look down and mind their own business. But everyone here is so friendly, welcoming, and down to have a conversation with you. I love that about the Irish culture: everyone is so friendly and welcoming. The city is just so quaint: for example, many of the doors are brightly painted blue, yellow, red, and other colors that pop out and make the city more vibrant.
I also notice how there are only short buildings and no skyscrapers at all, somewhat like the suburbs of America. This is to maintain their skyline. I also notice that are an abundance of restaurants, grocery stores, and pharmacies but I never see gyms, workout studios, large shopping malls, beauty stores, or spas. Again, I think this ties to the Irish and their simple lifestyle.
As for StayCity, it has a few differences compared to the Hyatt we stayed at in Charlotte. The Hyatt felt luxurious and provided everything you could need: dreamy beds, toiletries, too many towels, ice bucket, and even USB charging ports. They want you have the best experience possible.
Whereas StayCity also wants you to have an amazing experience, but is so much more simplistic. We are given the bare necessities. Literally, I don’t have a trash can in my bedroom and my clothes have been turning in the washing machines for 6 hours now. It’s crazy how long it takes to finish compared to how powerful American machines are. I am very shocked because even the toilets here are not as strong. Dublin claims to be very innovative and forward thinking, and yet American machines are so much more powerful.
As for our two site visits, I notice how involved and socially responsible the Irish are. At Croke Park, the largest amateur stadium in the world, they passionately discussed their sustainability goals. Also, at FoodCloud they explained the ripple effect of decreasing food waste and the impact of being socially responsible. I love that, because I get frustrated sometimes at how American companies care more about profit and revenue than about helping others or helping the world.
Overall, Dublin is not as different from home as I thought it would be. If anything, Charlotte, NC was more of a shock for me because I’ve never visited the South! Restaurants here give off similar vibes and similar foods, the bus system is extremely similar, and everyone speaks English. I’ve been to China, Japan, and Mexico before, and those places are significantly more different than America, whereas Dublin feels like I’m just visiting another city in the States!